Park Station Hashery Fires Up Fast-Casual

“Fast casual gastropubs” will not yield much in the way of search results. Even Google hasn’t caught-up with the ingenious mind of Louis Silva, of Naglee Park Garage fame. Silva and his partner, Long Nguyen, envisioned their newest restaurant endeavor, Park Station Hashery, as “a different kind of eatery for everyday life.”

The menu runs the gamut from traditional American fare (e.g. burgers and ribs) to colorful foreign cuisine (e.g. Piri Piri and Portuguese salt cod). Not only can they take care of one’s nutritional needs, but libations are also a specialty. With craft beers on tap, wine and a full coffee bar, this place definitely keeps people hydrated.

The first thing to catch the eye is the magnificent Rose Garden-inspired mural on the east side of the building, created by local artists Ben Henderson and Lacey Bryant. It really helps Park Station stand out, which is tough considering that they’re kitty-corner from the Rosicrucian Museum. The interior is simple but elegant, with long wooden tables that can be used for communal dining. There’s also an open patio to dine alfresco. Individual tables are available for a more private rendezvous.

We gave the weekend brunch menu a sample. Park Station qualifies as fast casual, as orders are made at the counter. We ordered the Corned Beef & Hash ($13.95), Our French Toast ($11.95) and—to quench our thirst—the Rose Park Mimosa ($8) and El Chapo ($5.50) a spicy cayenne mocha. The counter and ensuing table service was efficient and very friendly.

The corned beef & hash comes with two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce. The eggs provided plenty of delicious, rich yolk to smother the almost excellent house-made corned beef. The dish was beefy, bold and had a nice combination of spices that didn’t give me tongue fatigue as corned beef can. Their french toast is made with vanilla bread pudding and topped with whipped cream, maple syrup and toasted pecans. The bread pudding itself was soft and tender, but the flavor was one note. The crunchy pecans helped to liven things up, but it needs maybe a whiskey sauce or some cinnamon to flesh it out. On the positive side, I appreciated that it wasn’t ridiculously sweet.

As for the drinks, I thought the mimosa had a good balance, but my wife felt like it could’ve been a little boozier. The El Chapo had a nice mix of spice and a deep chocolate flavor, but maybe could’ve used a bit more of coffee to give it more kick. With an inventive menu, bold ownership and a hungry clientele, Park Station Hashery is an exciting new addition to the Rose Garden dining scene.

San Jose: Park Station Hashery opens in Rose Garden

Partners Louis Silva and Long Nguyen had a vision for Park Station Hashery, their new restaurant in San Jose’s Rose Garden neighborhood, and it wasn’t lost on diner Wendy Neff on opening night.

“This is soul-of-San Jose food,” the Facebook chef declared as she dug into a reimagined dish of Portuguese salt cod, which shares space on the inaugural menu with Piri Piri chicken, Mexican fideo, griddled steak, tomato and eggplant soups, pizza and salads.Silva (owner-chef at Naglee Park Garage) and Nguyen worked with operations director David Johnson (Barefoot Coffee Roasters, Oak & Rye) to transform the former Antonella’s restaurant, a neighborhood stalwart, into a hipper hangout with an open patio that will stay open until 10.

The new murals by local artists Ben Henderson and Lacey Bryant pay homage to the area’s history: Roses and a sundial bring to mind the acclaimed Municipal Rose Garden, and the spokes evoke nearby Race Street’s fame as a cycling center. (A hand-painted bike rack will encourage folks to cycle here.) And the image of the Italian grocer? He stayed as a tribute to Antonella’s and San Jose’s Italian community.

For now, Park Station will serve dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday). Look for brunch and breakfast to be added within six weeks, the owners said.

The wildly popular Naglee Park Garage will remain under Silva’s stewardship.

PARK STATION HASHERY

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Park Station Hashery, a new neighborhood eatery, blends history with community connection. It’s nestled on the corner of Park Avenue and Naglee in the heart of Rose Garden, arguably one of the most beautiful, historical neighborhoods in California. Rivaling the likes of Hancock Park, Pasadena, and Pacific Heights, the neighborhood’s architecture mirrors the California of yesteryear. The restaurant gets its name from Park Avenue and the building’s history as a gas station.

Chef Luis Silva of Naglee Park Garage fame and business partner Long Nguyen wanted a building that fit in with the history of San Jose. Silva had “been looking for something to do in the way of food, drinks, and community.”

He believes he’s found it.

With a dearth of dining options in the mostly residential neighborhood, The Hashery has filled a void residents were craving: appropriately priced meals packaged with community, creativity, and ambiance.

Silva brings inventive cuisine through his distinct, approachable menu. With food from around the world—like okonomiyaki, fideo, piri-piri chicken, flammkuchen, a proper chorizo breakfast casserole, and a good, solid burger—he understands the wide range of San Josean tastes. But it’s not just about the taste. “We’re trying to do as close to home-cooked meals as we can,” Nguyen elaborates. “A lot of people measure a restaurant on taste and ambiance. I think what a lot of them are missing is that magic third part, which is how they feel after they leave. With all of our fresh and locally sourced food, most people will walk away after having a great meal and then later on, they’ll just feel how nice it is to have fresh ingredients in their body.”

The Hashery softly opened with a Fourth of July barbeque, inviting neighborhood folks to check out the space in progress. From there, excitement has spread, and the restaurant has quickly become a staple in the community. “This is the kind of community-mindedness we wanted to create,” Nguyen says. “We grew up in big families and in big neighborhoods. When you come new to a neighborhood, you have a barbeque and invite everyone, break bread with them, and get to know them.” The Fourth of July barbecue was just the first step. The two partners also plan on hosting family movie nights once a month.

Silva and Nguyen also build on the aesthetically striking neighborhood. The outdoor façade and patio mural painted by local artists Ben Henderson and Lacey Bryant pay homage to the rich cycling history of the area. In fact, San Jose was home to seven velodromes at one point in history. “What Ben did with the murals and the painting makes you want to come inside,” Nguyen says. “He made something that looks beautiful and that fits the neighborhood. The Rosicrucian Museum is kitty-corner and is really special, and he created something that fits to that aesthetic, as well as all of the great homes in the neighborhood.” The Hashery’s marketing even caters to bicycles: customers who show up on bikes for the Two-Wheel Tuesday special can buy one beer and get one free.

Silva sums up the concept of the Hashery: “We try to keep it simple; we try to keep it identifiable; we try to keep it artisan. That’s why we call it San Jose soul food.” He smiles. “We want to keep the neighborhood happy.”